Michigan
21-1,11-1Big Ten
Penn State
10-13,1-11Big Ten
Burnett’s Career Night Carries Wolverines Past Penn State
2/5/2026 9:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The second-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team rolled past Penn State, 110-69, on Thursday night (Feb. 5) at Crisler Center behind a career night from Nimari Burnett. The Wolverines led by double figures early and never trailed, improving to 21-1, the best start through 22 games in program history.
Leaders and Best
Burnett led the Wolverines with career highs in points (31) and three-pointers (seven), including four in the second half. Morez Johnson Jr. followed with 12 points, 10 of which came in the first half to spark Michigan early, and added eight rebounds. Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 12 points, combining for four made three-pointers, while McKenney added five rebounds and four assists and Cason contributed three rebounds and six assists. Aday Mara rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points, six rebounds and a career-best six blocks, the most by a Wolverine in a game this season.
First Half
After going scoreless in the opening minute, Michigan (21-1, 11-1 B1G) erupted for an 11-0 run in just over three minutes, forcing a Penn State timeout with 15:39 remaining. Mara kept the momentum going out of the break with a putback layup. Meanwhile, Penn State (10-12, 1-11 B1G) struggled against the U-M defense, as the Nittany Lions went without a field goal for more than seven minutes midway through the half.
Meanwhile, seven different Wolverines scored during that stretch, including back-to-back three-pointers from Cason and Elliot Cadeau. Michigan pushed the margin to 44-18 following a three-pointer from Will Tschetter, while Penn State opened the game 0-for-10 from three-point range. Burnett capped the half with Michigan's sixth three-pointer, and the Wolverines carried a 56-24 advantage into the break, their highest-scoring first half of the season.
Second Half
Burnett stayed hot out of halftime, scoring 11 of Michigan's first 17 points in the half as the lead continued to grow. A McKenney three-pointer at the 10-minute mark ballooned the advantage to 41 (85-44), and Michigan reached the 100-point mark with just over three minutes remaining. Malick Kordel added his first points of the game with a dunk before Cason knocked down another three as the Wolverines finished out the 110-69 victory.
Michigan dominated the interior, finishing with 50 points in the paint, and got strong production from the bench, which accounted for 43 points.
What's Next
Michigan travels to Columbus, Ohio, to face Ohio State on Sunday (Feb. 8). Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., with the game airing live on CBS.
Game Notes
• Michigan improved to 21-1 for the first time in program history. The 2012-13 and 2018-19 teams both opened 20-1 before losing their 22nd game.
• Burnett became the first Wolverine since Aubrey Dawkins (March 7, 2015) to make seven or more three-pointers at Crisler Center.
• Burnett also recorded the first 30-point game by a Wolverine since Vladislav Goldin against Northwestern on Jan. 19, 2025.
• McKenney extended the longest active double-figure scoring streak on the team, scoring 10 or more points in five straight games.
• Michigan's 56 first-half points were its most since scoring 60 against McNeese on Dec. 29.
• The Wolverines held Penn State to 24 first-half points, marking the fourth time in the last five games Michigan has limited an opponent to fewer than 30 points in a half.
• The 41-point margin of victory tied for the sixth-largest against a Big Ten opponent in program history. Michigan also defeated Rutgers by 41 earlier this season (Dec. 6).
• Michigan is the first team since 1987-88 to score 100 or more points against multiple conference opponents in the same season.
